Goodbye current-generation, long live the current-generation. Yep, as we wrap up November, the PlayStation 4 and Xbox One are now available to snap up in the U.S. and Europe, ushering in a new era of video game consoles and bidding farewell to the reign of PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360. I must post a reminder on my fridge to refer to PS4 as ‘current-gen’ from here on out. Anyway, aside from the buzz of fresh hardware, November also represented the last of the holiday 2013 software landslide, with sequels to major IPs flooding shelves in a battle for our hard-earned cash. Somewhere in the middle of all of this, Wii U managed to pump out a few must-haves too, although we have a feeling that Nintendo will be struggling to take much of the attention away from Sony and Microsoft.
On with the show though, so it’s up to the staff at PSU.com to once again slap our Game of the Month accolade on a worthy title. Obviously, PS4’s release introduced us to a few exclusives in Killzone: Shadow Fall, Resogun and Knack, but also next-gen editions of third-party games including Assassin’s Creed IV: Black Flag, Battlefield 4, Call of Duty: Ghosts, Need for Speed: Rivals and more — all of which came to PS3, too. In many cases, the advantages of the PS4 version of multiplatform titles are fairly obvious, with added visual polish and additional content sweetening the deal. Free-to-play also showed its face in the shape of WWII combat romp War Thunder, letting gamers take part in massive MMO-based battles.
Nestled among the next-gen goodies however was Tearaway, the PlayStation Vita platformer that proves Media Molecule isn’t just a One Trick Pony and can deliver outside the world of SackBoy and chums. Indeed, this game is more than just a visual treat; it’s a showcase for PS Vita’s unique functions that blends puzzle and platform sections in one seamless, addictive package.
Meanwhile, BioShock: Infinite received its first chunk of major DLC in the shape of Burial at Sea: Episode 1, and the LEGO franchise was reinvigorated with the release of LEGO: Marvel Super Heroes. If that wasn’t enough, nostalgia fanatics were also treated to a high-definition makeover of celebrated brawler Soul Calibur II, featuring an all-new online component.
So, a massively busy month, and to say the voting among the staff proved diverse would be a gross understatement. However, we still managed after much discussion to decide on an ultimate winner — Resogun. Yep, the PS4 shoot-’em-up proves its might against blockbuster efforts such as Killzone: Shadow Fall and Call of Duty: Ghosts, proving that old-fashioned gameplay triumphs over flashy graphics any day of the week. With Resogun, developer Housemarque has created one of the most addictive titles available for Sony’s new console at launch, whether you rise through the score ranks solo or team up with a mate in co-op.
Read our full review on the game here, and check out a snippet below.
“The experience is vivacious and engaging even when topping the leaderboards isn’t your agenda. The retro influence is strong, and the experience that Housemarque has with the Super Stardust series makes this next-gen arcade outing a perfect retrofit. With only replayability really holding this compelling title back, the potential for a series is as great as the feeling of chaining your multiplier and saving the last humans.”
Don’t agree with our choice? Let us know what you think deserved the award for Game of the Month – Nov. 2013 in the comments section below.